Bowel Cancer Symptoms: Post Toilet Sign That Warns You Of The Disease

Bowel cancer affects a lot of people today. Many health experts advise that it is best to know the signs of the disease so that patients would be able to avail of early treatment. One of the common symptoms of the disease includes a certain feeling after you’ve been to the toilet.

Bowel Does Not Empty

One of the most common signs of bowel cancer is the feeling that the bowel doesn’t empty after going to the toilet. According to Cancer Research UK, this symptom leads to the feeling that you need to strain your back passage much after you have opened your bowels. So whenever you have already moved your bowels, and yet you don’t feel that you have emptied your stomach, better check with a general practitioner. This feeling is one of the signs of the dreaded bowel cancer.

Other Symptoms

Aside from the feeling that you did not fully empty the bowels, there are other symptoms of the disease. For instance, if you see blood in your stools, or if the rectum is bleeding, then it would call for immediate medical attention. If you feel an abnormal activity in your bowel movement, such as having loose stools, or if you are experiencing continuous constipation, then it could also be a warning sign. Other symptoms include pain in the abdomen, breathlessness, and losing weight. If you’ve been to the doctor and there is a lump in the abdomen, located often on the right side, it could also be a warning signal.

Tests Used

One of the tests that doctors carry out to check whether you have bowel cancer is the digital rectal examination (DRE). The DRE doesn’t take long, and while it may be a bit embarrassing for some, it would only take less than a minute, as per NHS. Doctors may also check the blood to determine if you have anemia, which is often a result of the bleeding of the rectal area.

Prevention Tips

Health experts advise men and women to exercise frequently and to maintain a healthy weight in order to help prevent the onset of bowel cancer. According to Cancer Research, about 11 of 100 cases of bowel cancer were linked to obesity. There’s also strong evidence that shows how keeping active reduces one’s risk.